Scholars shake their way to understanding half-life with the help of candy. They observe and record which side candy lands on to graph the exponential decay in the fifth lesson of seven integrating chemistry and algebra. Combining...

Toss 100 pennies (or poker chips or any other two-different-sided objects) and remove all of those displaying tails. Line them up and repeat. The lines of pennies collected get smaller each time, successfully representing half-life.

Make your lesson on radioactive decay pop with this lab exercise. Using popcorn kernels spread over a tabletop, participants pick up all of those that point toward the back of the room, that is, those that represent decayed atoms. As the...

Try introducing this assigment on converting measurement by presenting a scenario: "Last night I found a recipe for cookies, and it called for a half pint of butter. All I had was measuring cups - what should I do?"...

Pupils participate in a lab in which they are introduced to carbon-dating. In groups, they use the holes of paper from a hole puncher and determine the rate of retention after shaking coins onto the same area. They record their...

An interesting way of teaching about basic needs of different organisms awaits your fourth graders. Pupils take part in class discussions and demonstrations which should lead to a greater understanding of how to determine basic needs. As...

The 15th lesson in the series of 24 helps your classes understand the ppm (part per million) unit of measure. First, scholars experiment with food coloring to determine concentrations before applying their findings to calculate...

High schoolers discuss transition metals, their properties, and where they are located on the periodic table as well as why transition metals are ideal for coins. After discussion, they conduct an experiment using copper in the form of...

Middle schoolers explain how radioactive decay occurs. In this physical science lesson, students simulate radioactive half-life through an experiment. They graph their data and share their results in class.

Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of mental math. They perform calculations as following: recognizing a half, three quarters, and tenths. Students are also challenged to extend skills to making calculation...

Students explore the process of carbon dating fossils to determine their age. They simulate radioactive decay using pennies in a shoe box. Heads represents a decayed atom each time they shake the box. They use the data to calculate the...

A penny can be a much more valuable teaching tool that you might think. Whether you are teaching about chemical reactions, surface tension, the behavior of gases, or are just looking for engaging activities for early finishers,...

Students drop water onto clean coins to determine the tension of each coin and then to graph their findings.

Advocate for the environment! With the short story included, learners are prompted to think about radon (the odorless and colorless gas) and possible ways to get donations or raise money to purchase detection equipment. The plan spans...

Fourth graders explore the basic needs of living things. They observe a variety of living things and identify the basic needs of each living item. Students create food balls of peanut butter and nuts to feed animals. They hang their food...

In this dimensional analysis activity, students solve six word problems using dimensional analysis to solve for an unknown. These include finding density, and converting from one unit to another. They also categorize samples as...

Students investigate the best antacids for sour stomachs. In this antacids lesson plan, students use different antacids, balloons and flasks containing 0.1 M HCl. They place the balloon with the antacids in them on top of the flaks and...

Students consider the question," Is more expensive more absorbent?" In this science lesson plan, students find out through experimentation which paper towel is the most absorbent as well as which one is the best cost value for their money.

Students create their own balance to determine a difference in the weight (and composition) of cents made in different years.

Young scholars see that when we throw away garbage, it usually ends up in a landfill. Landfill space is getting increasingly scarce, and every time we throw something away we throw with it the energy, the money, and the raw materials it...

The Galápagos Islands are an amazing place of isolated adaptation, colonized by an interesting mix of plants and animals. The class plays a game to help them understand how these organisms came to live on the island through a combination...

Students explore magnetism by observing a series of 8 magnet "tricks" performed by the instructor. For this magnets lesson, students predict which items will be attracted to a magnet and experiment to see if they predicted correctly....

Learners examine how hurricanes grow and their strength levels through an interactive program. They define terms associated with hurricanes and how the public is affected by the storms.

The best inventions come from a problem that needs to be solved! Given a container with holes in...